Fill cap assembly for sandblasting machines or the like

ABSTRACT

The assembly includes a spring-loaded closure cap and attached stem reciprocatively mounted to a support carried internally of a pressurized tank. The support includes a pair of armsholding a slotted sleeve in register with the container fill aperture and in alignment with the stem. The stem is provided with a latch pin received by the slotted sleeve and the assembly may be held in an open position by depressing the closure cap sufficiently so that the pin clears the sleeve to permit the stem to be rotated to a latched position. In the closed position of the fill cap assembly, internal container pressure secures the seal. The closure cap is dome-shaped to facilitate the filling process and shield the working parts of the assembly.

[ 1 Dec. 19, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 264,372 1/1927 GreatBritain......... ..................51/12 Primary Examiner-Lester M. Swingle Attorney-Cohn and Powell [57] ABSTRACT The assembly includes a spring-loaded closure cap and attached stem reciprocatively mounted to a support carried internally of a pressurized tank. The support includes a pair of armsholding a slotted sleeve in register with the container fill aperture and in alignment with the stem. The stem is provided with a latch pin received by the slotted sleeve and the assembly may be held in an open position by depressing the closure cap sufficiently so that the pin clears the sleeve to permit the stem to be rotated to a latched position. In the closed position of the fill cap' assembly, internal container pressure secures the seal. The closure cap is SANDBLASTING MACHINES OR THE LIKE V [72] Inventor: James D. Burtin, c/o Detroit Tool and Engineering Co., PO. Box 232, Lebanon, Mo. 65536 June 18, 1970 .51/12, 220/86 R. [51] Int.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS United States Patent Burtin [s4] FILL CAP ASSEMBLY Fon 2 2] Filed:

[211 App]. No.: 47,526

[58] Field of Search.5l/12, 8; 220/205, 86 R, 86 AT .5 1/ 12 ..51/12 X .....'.51/l2 X dome-shaped to facilitate the filling process and shield /86 R the working parts of the assembly.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Greer .220/86 AT Martin AT 1,171,286 Wadsworth 1,271,107 7/1918 3,270,463 9/1966 171,269 12/1875 1,805,868 5/1931 1,810,366 6/1931 PATENT ED DEC 19 1912 42:: oz/v/s 5 FILL CAP ASSEMBLY FOR SANDBLASTING MACHINES OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to a fill cap assembly for a container, and in particular to an assembly suitable for a sandblasting machine tank.

One of the problems involved in the operation of sandblasting machines is that of providing an adequate and simple means for filling and sealing the pressurized tank. Access to the tank is very important and, for this reason, fill cap assemblies of such tanks are generally mounted to the outside of the tank and are removable to permit access into the tank interior. However, mounting the fill cap assembly to the outside of the tank presents a problem in that the internal tank pressure tends to operate against the fill cap seal and in opposition .to any spring-loading feature which may be incorporated in the assembly to effectuate that seal.

Particulate material, such as sand and fine glass balls, has a great tendency to clog the moving parts of valves, and particularly those which rely for their operation on springs and reciprocating elements. Mechanismswhich permit the collection of particulate material in the vicinity of the moving parts tend to malfunction and require frequent cleaning and attention.

It is of obvious advantage, particularly as far as sandblasting machines are concerned, to have a fill cap assembly which will remain in an open position during the filling operation without the cap assembly having to be removed from the tank. Known spring-loaded assemblies do not provide this feature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This fill cap assembly is mounted internally of the tank and yet is externally accessible for manual operation. The assembly is spring-loaded to facilitate sealing and the disposition of parts provide that the sealing pressure is augmented, rather than diminished, by the action of internal tank pressure on the fill cap.

Because the fill cap assembly is mounted internally of the tank, and because of the cap configuration and disposition respective to the moving parts, the cap provides a shield precluding clogging of the mechanism by the particulate material. A latching feature is provided which permits the assembly to remain in an open position during the filling operation, and to be closed semiautomatically when the filling operation is completed.

The fill cap assembly includes a support means, which is attached to the interior of the container, and a closure means for the container fill aperture which is movably mounted to the support means for travel between open and closed positions. Resilient means between the closure means and the support means selectively urges the closure means into a closed position, and latch means between the closure means and the support means selectively holds the closure means in an open position.

The closure means includes a cap operatively disposed in shielding relation above the resilient means and the latch means. The closure means includes a stern, and the support means includes a sleeve receiving the stem in sliding relation. The latch means includes cooperating slot and pin elements. The pin is provided by the stem, and the slot is provided by the sleeve and the pin is relatively rotatable out of alignment with the slot, whereby to lock the closure means in the open position.

The closure means includes a cap attached to the stem and engageable with the seating margin of the fill aperture. The resilient means is provided by a spring, disposed in operative relation about the stem between the closure cap and the stem, and precompressed to urge the cap against the aperture margin.

The support means includes a pair of arms holding the sleeve in coaxial alignment with the fill aperture to receive the stem in reciprocating sliding relation. The sleeve includes an abutment means at its lower end, which is engageable by the stem pin on rotation of the stem to a latched condition.

The closure cap is dome-shaped to facilitate flow of material into the container and shield the working parts of the assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in cross section, of the tank of a sandblasting machine showing the fill cap assembly in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is a similar view showing the fill cap assembly in the open position, and I FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing and first to FIG. 1, it will be understood that the fill cap assembly, generally indicated by numeral 10, is mounted inside a container 11 which, in the preferred embodiment, is the tank of a sandblasting machine. 'The container 11 is provided with a cupshaped receptacle 12 which facilitates the filling of the container 11 with abrasive particulate material 14.

At its lower end, the container 11 includes a hopper 13 which facilitates the feeding of the particulate material 14 within the container into the vicinity of a venturi feed, generally indicated by numeral 15. The

hopper l3 terminates in an air valve assembly,

generally indicated by numeral 16, which is supplied from an air pipe 17 and includes a nozzle 20 which may be moved into and out of engagement with the sandblasting material outlet pipe 21 by means of a foot pedal 22. The foot pedal 22 is attached to the base 23 of the air valve 16 by means of a link 24 and downward movement of the foot pedal 22, which is pinned to a collar 25 attached to the nozzle 20, urges said nozzle 20 into engagement with the outlet pipe 21 to cut off the supply of abrasive material to said outlet pipe 21.

It will be understood that the outlet pipe 21 is attached to the container 11 by means of a collar 26 at its upper end, which is welded of otherwise connected to the cup-shaped receptacle 12, and that the outlet pipe 21 terminates in a coupling 27 which may be connected to a flexible hose (not shown) for supplying abrasive material to a desired location.

The container 11 includes a fitting 30 supplying air under pressure to the interior of the container 11 and constituting a means selectively pressurizing said container 11. A blow-off fitting indicated by numeral 31 (FIG. 3) provides a means of exhausting the pressurized air from within the container 1 1 when desired.

Referring now more specifically to the fill cap assembly 10, it will be understood that this assembly includes a closure means provided by a dome-shaped cap 32 having a downwardly depending stem 33 attached thereto as by welding. The stem 33 includes a transverse'pin 34, constituting a shoulder, welded or otherwise attached to its remote end. The stem 33 is slidably received within an elongate sleeve 35, which includes a longitudinal slot 36 receiving the pin 34. The sleeve 35 is welded or otherwise attached to a pair of arms 37, which are in turn attached to the wall of the cup-shaped receptacle 12, said receptacle defining the upper wall of the container 1 The arms 37 hold the sleeve 35 in substantial axial alignment with the container fill aperture, which is generally indicated by numeral 40. The

arms 37 and the sleeve 35 thus serve as a support means for the closure means provided by the cap 32 and the stem 33.

The fill aperture 40 includes a stiffening ring 41 having adependingmargin 42 which provides a recess accommodating a sealing ring 43' of Neoprene or equivalent sealing material. A compression spring 44, constituting a' resilient means, is disposed about the stem 33 between the upper end of the sleeve 35 and the underside of the cap 32 and it will be understood that the spring 44 is precompressed to urge the closure cap 32 into a closed seated position against the sealing ring 43.

The closure cap 32 is provided with a handle 45, which may be grasped by an operator and depressed out of engagement with the sealing ring 43. When the closure cap 32 is depressed, the pin 34 rides downwardly in the slot 36 of the sleeve 35 and when the downward travel of the stem 33 within said sleeve 35 is such that the pin 34 clears the lower margin 38 of the sleeve 35, the closure cap 32 and stem 33 may be rotated manually by turning the handle 45 a quarterturn into the location indicated in FIG. 2. When the handle 45 is released, the pin 34 is prevented from moving upwardly by engagement with said margin 38, which constitutes an abutment. Thus, the till cap assembly may be retained in an open position as long as desired and, in particular, until the container 11 is charged with abrasive material 14.

It is thought that the structural features and functional advantages of this fill cap assembly have become fully apparent from the foregoing description of parts, but for completeness of disclosure, the operation of the assembly will be briefly summarized.

The cup-shaped receptacle 12 above the container 11 provides a convenient collection basin and measure for the abrasive particulate material. The spring 44 of the fill cap assembly 10 is sufficiently strong to hold the closure cap 32 against the sealing ring 43 and, when it is desired to charge the container 11 with particulate material 14, the closure cap 32 is simply depressed manually by pushing down on the handle 45. When the pin 34 at the remote end of the stem 33 is clear of the lower margin 38 of the support sleeve 35 the handle 45 may simply be rotated through a quarter-tum to securely hold the fill cap assembly 10 in an open position. It will be observed from FIG. 2 that, in this open position, the dome-shaped cap 32 acts as an umbrella and shields the spring 44 and the reciprocating stem 33. Particulate material which pours into the container,

cascades over the cap and falls, under gravity, clear of the working parts up to a level indicated in FIG. 1.

When the container 11 has been charged sufficiently, the closure cap 32 is returned to its sealing position by the simple expedient of turning the handle 45, and therefore the stem 33, until the pin 34 is once more aligned with the slot 36. The spring 44 is sufiiciently powerful to return the closure cap 32 to a sealed position when the assembly is closed. The interior of the container 11 may be pressurized with air to between and pounds per square inch'and this air pressure, acting as it does against the underside of the cap 32, securely seals the fill cap assembly 10.

The sandblasting machine is now ready for sandblasting, and by manipulating the foot pedal 22 so that the nozzle 20 is spaced from the outlet pipe 21, and by supplying air under pressure to the air supply pipe 17, the sandblasting operation can commence. When it is once again desired to fill the container 11, the air supply is cut off and the blow-off fitting 3'1 opened to evacuate pressurized air from the interior of the container 11 thereby permitting manual opening of the fill cap assembly 10.

I claim as my invention:

1. A fill cap assembly for a sandblasting machine comprising:

a. a container including a fill aperture,

b. support means carried by the container,

0. an integrally formed closure means for the container fill aperture movably mounted to the support means between an open and closed position,

. resilient means between the closure means and the support means selectively urging the closure means into a closed position, and

. latch means between the closure means and the support means said latter two means including interengageable latch elements selectively holding the closure means in an open position the latch element of the closure means being an inseparable part of the closure means in the open position and in the closed position.

2. A fill cap assembly for a sandblasting machine comprising:

a. a container including a fill aperture,

b. support means carried by the container,

c. closure means for the container fill aperture movably mounted to the support means between an open and closed position,

. resilient means between the closure means and the support means selectively urging the closure means into a closed position,

. latch means between the closure means and the support means selectively holding the closure means in an open position, and

f. the closure means including a cap means operatively disposed in shielding relation above the resilient means and the latch means.

3. A fill cap assembly for a sandblasting machine comprising:

a. a container including a fill aperture,

b. support means carried by the container,

c. an integrally formed closure means for the container fill aperture movably mounted to the support means between an open and closed position,

. resilient means between the closure means and the support means selectively urging the closure means into a closed position, I

. latch means between the closure means and the support means selectively holding the closure means inan open position, and

. one of said support and closure means including a A fill cap assembly as defined in claim 3, in which: one of saidelements includes an abutment andthe other of said elements includes a shoulder selec-- tively engageable with said abutment when said elements are relatively rotated into the latched position.

5. A fill cap assembly for a sandblasting machine comprising:

a. a container including a fill aperture,

b. support means carried by the container,

c. closure means for the container fill aperture movably mounted to the support means between an open and closed position,

. resilient means between the closure means and the support means selectively urging the closure means into a closed position,

. latch means between the closure means and th support means selectively holding the closure means in an open position,

the support means being mounted inside the container,

g. one of said support means and closure means including a stem and the other of said means including a sleeve receiving the stem in sliding relation, and

h. the latch means including a slot element and an aligned pin element, one of said elements being 5 provided by the stern and the other of said elements being provided by the sleeve, said pin element being relatively rotatable out of alignment with the slot element whereby to latch the closure means in the open position.

6. A fill cap assembly for a sandblasting machine comprising:

a. a container including a fill aperture,

b. support means carried by the container,

0. an integrally formed closure means for the container fill aperture movably mounted to the support means between an open and closed position,

d. resilient means between the closure means and the support means selectively urging the closure means into a closed position,

e. latch means between the closure means and the support means selectively holding the closure means in an open position,

f. the fill aperture including an interior margin, g. the closure means including:

i. a closure cap in register and engageable with the margin in sealing relation,

2. a stem inwardly disposed of the head, and

3. a latch element,

h. the support means including a sleeve operatively disposed in coaxial relation to the stem and receiving said stern in sliding relation, and

i. the closure 'cap being inwardly depressible against the action of the resilient means and being rotatable to rotate the latch element into latched engagement with the support means.

7. A fill cap assembly for a sandblasting machine comprising:

a. a container including a fill aperture having an interior seating margin,

b. means selectively pressurizing the container,

c. support means carried interiorly of the container,

(1. an integrally formed closure means for the till aperture movably mounted to the support means between an open and closed position, and includl. a closure cap engageable with the seating margm I 2. a stem attached to the closure cap and reciprocatively related to the support means,

e. spring means between the closure means and the support means selectively urging the closure cap into a'closed position, and Y f. latch means between the'closure meansand the support means said latter two means including interengageable latch elements selectively holding the closure means in an open position the latch element of the closure means being an inseparable part of said closure means in the open position and the closed position.

8. A fill cap assembly for a sandblasting machine comprising:

a. a container including a fill aperture having an interior seating margin,

b. means selectively pressurizing the container,

0. support means carried interiorly of the container,

d. closure means for the fill aperture movably mounted to the support means betweenan open and closed position, and including:

1. a closure cap engageable with the seating mar- 2. a stem attached to the closure cap and reciprocatively related to the support means,

e. spring means between the closure means and the support means selectively urging the closure cap into a closed position,

f. latch means between the closure means and the support means selectively holding the closure means in an open position,

g. the support means including:

i a sleeve,

2. a plurality of support arms holding said sleeve in coaxial alignment with the stem to receive said stem in sliding relation,

h. the stem including a transverse pin,

i. the sleeve including a longitudinal slot and an abutment, the slot receiving the pin for travel therein, and

j. the stem being selectively rotatable relative to the slot whereby the abutment is engageable by the pin in the rotated condition to provide the latch means. 9. A fill cap assembly as defined in claim 8, in which: k. the closure cap is dome-shaped to facilitate flow of material into the container and shield the spring means and the latch means, and

l. the spring means is a 535 m spring disposed about the stem between the sleeve and the closure cap. 

1. A fill cap assembly for a sandblasting machine comprising: a. a container including a fill aperture, b. support means carried by the container, c. an integrally formed closure means for the container fill aperture movably mounted to the support means between an open and closed position, d. resilient means between the closure means and the support means selectively urging the closure means into a closed position, and e. latch means between the closure means and the support means said latter two means including interengageable latch elements selectively holding the closure means in an open position the latch element of the closure means being an inseparable part of the closure means in the open position and in the closed position.
 2. a stem inwardly disposed of the head, and
 2. A fill cap assembly for a sandblasting machine comprising: a. a container including a fill aperture, b. support means carried by the container, c. closure means for the container fill aperture movably mounted to the support means between an open and closed position, d. resilient means between the closure means and the support means selectively urging the closure means into a closed position, e. latch means between the closure means and the support means selectively holding the closure means in an open position, and f. the closure means including a cap means operatively disposed in shielding relation above the resilient means and the latch means.
 2. a stem attached to the closure cap and reciprocatively related to the support means, e. spring means between the closure means and the support means selectively urging the closure cap into a closed position, and f. latch means between the closure means and the support means said latter two means including interengageable latch elements selectively holding the closure means in an open position the latch element of the closure means being an inseparable part of said closure means in the open position and the closed position.
 2. a plurality of support arms holding said sleeve in coaxial alignment with the stem to receive said stem in sliding relation, h. the stem including a transverse pin, i. the sleeve including a longitudinal slot and an abutment, the slot receiving the pin for travel therein, and j. the stem being selectively rotatable relative to the slot whereby the abutment is engageable by the pin in the rotated condition to provide the latch means.
 2. a stem attached to the closure cap and reciprocatively related to the support means, e. spring means between the closure means and the support means selectively urging the closure cap into a closed position, f. latch means between the closure means and the support means selectively holding the closure means in an open position, g. the support means including:
 3. A fill cap assembly for a sandblasting machine comprising: a. a container including a fill aperture, b. support means carried by the container, c. an integrally formed closure means for the container fill aperture movably mounted to the support means between an open and closed position, d. resilient means between the closure means and the support means selectively urging the closure means into a closed position, e. latch means between the closure means and the support means selectively holding the closure means in an open position, and f. one of said support and closure means including a first apertured latch element and the other of said means including a second latch element slidably received within the aperture of the first latch element, said elements being relatively rotatable into a latched position the latch element of the closure means being an inseparable part of the closure means in the open position and in the closed position.
 3. a latch element, h. the support means including a sleeve operatively disposed in coaxial relation to the stem and receiving said stem in sliding relation, and i. the closure cap being inwardly depressible against the action of the resilient means and being rotatable to rotate the latch element into latched engagement with the support means.
 4. A fill cap assembly as defined in claim 3, in which: g. one of said elements includes an abutment and the other of said elements includes a shoulder selectively engageable with said abutment when said elements are relatively rotated into the latched position.
 5. A fill cap assembly for a sandblasting machine comprising: a. a container including a fill aperture, b. support means carried by the container, c. closure means for the container fill aperture movably mounted to the support means between an open and closed position, d. resilient means between the closure means and the support means selectively urging the closure means into a closed position, e. latch means between the closure means and the support means selectively holding the closure means in an open position, f. the support means being mounted inside the container, g. one of said support means and closure means including a stem and the other of said means including a sleeve receiving the stem in sliding relation, and h. the latch means including a slot element and an aligned pin element, one of said elements being provided by the stem and the other of said elements being provided by the sleeve, said pin eLement being relatively rotatable out of alignment with the slot element whereby to latch the closure means in the open position.
 6. A fill cap assembly for a sandblasting machine comprising: a. a container including a fill aperture, b. support means carried by the container, c. an integrally formed closure means for the container fill aperture movably mounted to the support means between an open and closed position, d. resilient means between the closure means and the support means selectively urging the closure means into a closed position, e. latch means between the closure means and the support means selectively holding the closure means in an open position, f. the fill aperture including an interior margin, g. the closure means including:
 7. A fill cap assembly for a sandblasting machine comprising: a. a container including a fill aperture having an interior seating margin, b. means selectively pressurizing the container, c. support means carried interiorly of the container, d. an integrally formed closure means for the fill aperture movably mounted to the support means between an open and closed position, and including:
 8. A fill cap assembly for a sandblasting machine comprising: a. a container including a fill aperture having an interior seating margin, b. means selectively pressurizing the container, c. support means carried interiorly of the container, d. closure means for the fill aperture movably mounted to the support means between an open and closed position, and including:
 9. A fill cap assembly as defined in claim 8, in which: k. the closure cap is dome-shaped to facilitate flow of material into the container and shield the spring means and the latch means, and l. the spring means is a compression spring disposed about the stem between the sleeve and the closure cap. 